1932
20
Division 1
Mobile phone company Orange
http://www.frenchleague.com French Football League
History
Contents |
French Football League Overview
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 (a.k.a Première division or Division 1) is the top division of French football. Founded in 1932, it has been a professional league since then. The two French professional leagues, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, are part of the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel). There are 20 Ligue 1 teams. In one season, they play each other twice, for a 38-match
League Ranking
Currently Ligue 1 is in 4th place in the UEFA League rankings, the top 3 teams qualify for the Champions League and the 4th placed-team for the UEFA Cup.
History
France was one of the first European countries to professionalize football in 1930. The same year, Jules Rimet, president of the FFF, created the FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by France in 1938. The first Ligue 1 champion was Olympique Lillois, in 1933.
From 1955 to 1983, 3 teams were dominated the championship, Stade de Reims and FC Nantes, both won 6 league titles, and AS Saint Etienne with 10 titles. In 1955, the first European Cup final was opposing Real Madrid against Stade de Reims, and it was won by Real Madrid 4-3.
During the 80s and 90s, new wealthy teams such as Bordeaux, Paris Saint Germain or Olympique de Marseille were emerging, trying to impose themselves. Marseille won 4 titles in a row between 1988 and 1992. Moreover, they are the only French club to have won the Champions League, which was in 1993 against AC Milan! In 1996, French clubs had to face a new market. Indeed, because of the Bosman Ruling, the football market was opened in all Europe, tempting more and more French players (Platini, Papin, Cantona, Zidane, Henry.....) to go play abroad, for wealthy Italian, English or Spanish teams. Nowadays, it is still one of the biggest problemsfor the FFF.
Since 2001, one team has took control of Ligue 1 : Olympique Lyonnais, which won 7 league titles in a row!
League Format
Since 1995, at the end of each season, the bottom 3 teams in the division are relegated to Ligue 2, and the 3 top teams in Ligue 2 are promoted to Ligue 1.
League Trophies
Recognition and Awards
Most League Goals of All Time
| Ranking | Player | Games | Goals | First Match | Last Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Delio Onnis | 453 | 299 | 1971 | 1986 |
| 2. | Bernard Lacombe | 500 | 255 | 1969 | 1987 |
| 3. | Herve Revelli | 393 | 216 | 1965 | 1978 |
| 4. | Thadee Cosowski | 286 | 206 | 1947 | 1961 |
| 5. | Roger Piantoni | 390 | 203 | 1950 | 1966 |
| 6. | Roger Courtois | 193 | 1932 | 1956 | |
| 7. | Joseph Ujlaki | 439 | 189 | 1947 | 1964 |
| 8. | Fleury Di Nallo | 425 | 187 | 1960 | 1975 |
| 9. | Carlos Bianchi | 221 | 179 | 1973 | 1980 |
| 10. | Gunnar Andersson | 232 | 179 | 1950 | 1960 |
Most League Appearances
| Ranking | Player | # Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jean Luc Ettori (1975-1994) | 602 |
| 2. | Dominique Dropsy (1972-1989) | 596 |
| 3. | Dominique Baratelli (1967-1985) | 586 |
| 4. | Alain Giresse (1970-1988) | 593 |
| 5. | Sylvain Kastendeuch (1982-2001) | 577 |
| 6. | Patrick Battiston (1973-1991) | 558 |
| 7. | Jacky Novi (1964-1980) | 545 |
| 8. | Roger Marche (1944-1962) | 542 |
| 9. | Jean Paul Bertrand Demanes (1969-1988) | 532 |
| 10. | Henri Michel (1966-1982)) | 532 |
League Ranking
UEFA League rankings : 4th
League Management
- LFP President : Frederic Thiriez
- FFF President : Jean Pierre Escalettes
Sponsors
- Mobile phone company Orange
Media Coverage
Ligue 1 is internationally available on Setanta, and on Canal+ in France. It is also broadcast in Africa, home to many of the league's players.
Broadcasting rights:
- 1984-1985 : 2 million Euros
- 1985-1986 : 4 million Euros
- 1998-1999 : 122 million Euros
- 1999-2000 : 243 million Euros
- 2000-2001 : 275 million Euros
- 2001-2002 : 351 million Euros
- 2002-2003 : 362 million Euros
- 2003-2004 : 380 million Euros
- 2004-2005 : 391 million Euros
- 2005-2006 : 550 million Euros
- 2006-2007 : 600 million Euros
- 2007-2008 : 650 million Euros
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